Supplies at a foodbank in Stonehouse are running short due to high demand.

Plymouth Foodbank, based at the Oasis Project, is in urgent need of tinned fruit, tinned meat, sugar, long-life milk, long-life fruit juice, and biscuits as well as sanitary items.

Maria Mills, Oasis Project Manager, told The Herald: "The foodbank is seeing high demand for its services and is running short of most foods that it provides to people in crisis.

Volunteers Dan Spry and Will Notley sort out donated food (2012).

"The need to provide a food parcel which is balanced and nutritious is vitally important. Often people who come to use our services have struggled for a long period - this results in them having a poor diet, driven by financial restraints rather than what is healthy.

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"We aim to provide food for all their meals for a three day period, with a few treats to lift the spirits."

On August 11, the foodbank served 83 people with an hour left before closing.

"The number of people served this week will be close to 200," Maria said.

"We have run out of tinned fruit, we are down to our last few cans of tinned meat products, we are low on long life milk and fruit juice, and have had to buy sugar to stock the shelves today. But it is more than food, we also give out toiletries, sanitary ware and babies nappies and wipes.

Oasis Project Manager Maria Mills

"Imagine if you have no money and cannot buy toilet rolls or sanitary items - the inconvenience and humbling experience that people in Plymouth are facing today. A report recently stated that there are young women who miss school because they have not had sanitary products when needed.

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"We are not a third world country, but for some life is hard and we try to ease the burden, only then can people begin to address the real issues. It is hard to face the root of the problem when you don't know what you will give your children for dinner."

Donations can be dropped in to the foodbank from Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm or at drop-off points in Sainsbury's, Asda and some Co-Op's.